Summary of Legislation in Australian States and Territories This table gives a very brief overview of the key elements of prostitution legislation in Australia

Vic NSW Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Principal Act Summary Prostitution Act Prostitution Act Summary Prostitution Act Prostitution legislation 1994 Offences Act 1999 2000 Offences Act Offences Act 1992 Regulation Act 1988 , Restricted Amended 2010 1953 2005 2004 Premises Act 1943 Brothels must Legal to run a Brothels must be Illegal to run a Illegal to Illegal to run a Legal to run a Illegal to run a be licensed and with licensed and in brothel or to live manage or keep brothel. brothel, but must brothel. meet all appropriate accordance with off the earnings a brothel, or to be registered and licence planning planning laws of prostitution receive payment based in conditions to permission. for working in prescribed operate legally one. locations. Street Illegal Legal except in Illegal Illegal Illegal Illegal Illegal Illegal Prostitution certain areas as defined Escort Agencies Must be Not mentioned Clients of an Not illegal to Not mentioned Illegal to run an Legal to run an Illegal to carry licensed to in legislation escort service conduct an in legislation. escort agency. escort agency, on an escort operate legally must be escort service but must be agency business informed that but illegal to live registered. unless operator the service does off the earnings. holds a license. not include All staff of prostitution escort agencies must be registered with NT Police and receive a certificate from the Police Commissioner Vic NSW Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Sole Operators Small business Not mentioned Legal for a Nothing in the Nothing in the Up to two sex Legal but private individual operators (two in legislation person to work Act specifically Act specifically workers can workers still ‘escort’ who is people solely from a about private about private work together need to register working on their working premise without operators operators own does not separately or a licence need to have a jointly) and licence or be solo workers registered with are exempt police from requiring a licence to operate legally but still need to register their service. Regulatory Body Business Local councils Prostitution WA Police SA Police Tasmania Police The Office of Director-General Licensing approve Licensing Regulatory of Licensing Authority business Authority grants Services is grants licences grants licences applications licences to responsible for to escort for brothels brothels registering agencies. All and escort brothels, escort staff of escort services and agencies and agencies must be maintains the sole operators registered with register of NT Police and private receive a workers certificate from the Police Commissioner